Dispenser for powdered soap or similar granular material



Feb. 13, 1940.

. M. coNNs I 2,190,311

DISPENSER FOR POWDERED SOAPQOR SIMILAR GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed May 4, 1958 INVENTOR. m

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNrr ov STATES A 2,190,311 PATENT OFF-ICE Application May 4, 1938, sen-a1 ,No. 206,015

1 Claim.

- This invention relates to dispensers for granular or powdered material, such as powdered soap, and has for its object the provision of an improved dispensing container to deliver a constant predetermined quantity of material at each operation. M r

The dispenser ofthe invention affords several advantageous features in its construction and operation. Ithas a large opening inherently free from clogging through which soap is delivered, and a novel dispensing element normally-closing said opening and protecting all surfaces with which the material in the container lies in 'contact from water'splashedfrom the handset" the user. I

Furthermore, the co-operating surfaces of the container and the combined closing anddispensing element are so formed and arranged that at each operation both the bulk of the soap within the container and that which is about tobedispensed are positively disturbed and agitated. --Thus any caking and lumping of the soap or other material which would interfere with free delivery is" effectually prevented by the normal operation of the device.'

Finally, the improved dispenser is very simple 'in its construction, assembly, and adjustment, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention consists of a container having an 1 6 Jou'tlet central of its bottom and having a vertically movable operating plunger mounted axially therein, carrying a novel material dispensing and outlet-closing means arranged in novel co-operative relation to the fixed elements of the dispenser.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent in the course of the following description. v

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, I v

Fig. Us a vertical sectional view of adispenser according to the inventiomtaken along lines l-l ofFig.2,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

'Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of the device of Fig. 1, showing the plunger and dispensing elementpositioned at the end of a dispensing stroke, and

Figs. land 5 are, respectively, a vertical transverse section and a'sectional plan view of a large multiple-outlet dispenser embodying the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 3, my dispenser consists of a container or receptacle I having a conical bottom 2 tapering downwardly to a circular outlet 3. Within receptacle l a truncated conical false bottom 4 is mounted to present a circular outlet opening. coaxial with and spacedabove outlet 3. False bottom 4 has a, cylindrical flange at its upper. peripheral edge which fits snugly into the container l and is adjustably held in place by frictional engagement with the inner wall of the container, 'or it may be spot welded or brazed thereto.

The false bottom member 4 is positioned within the container I so that its tapered conical portion is spaced a predetermined distance from the conical bottom .2 of container i. A circular dispensing element 5 positioned between the bottom members '2 and 4, is axially mounted upon avertical operating plunger 6, whi'chis centered and guided by suitable means, as in apertures in one or more diametric cross-bars or struts l secured at opposite sides of the container I or false bottom 4. A spring 8 between the lower cross-bar l and dispensing element 5 urges the disk and plunger 6 normally downward.

The advantageous features of the invention resuit from a novel co-operative' relationship of the dispensing and closure element-5 to the outer and the false bottoms 2 and d of the dispenser. The dispensing member. 5 spans and effectually closes the opening of the false bottom twhen raised into engagement with it.

Plunger 6 is freely slidable through the, spreaders 1 and is otherwise free from direct attachment to stationary elements ofthe dispenser as-- 1.

sembly so that it is supported entirely by the peripheral engagement of the dispenser disk 5 with the taperedbottom 2 of the container.v

In its lowered position member 5 rests upon the tapered. surface'of the bottom 2, affording a positive closure which prevents leakage of the soap powder from the container if it is jarred and protecting the contents from splashing with water.

As is shown in Fig, 1, when the dispensing 40 member .5 is positioned normally upon bottom 2 of the container its upper face is spaced a predetermined distance below false bottom 4, definingtherewith an annular peripheral opening. The finely divided soap Ii flows through this over its edge on all sides on the inclined bottom 2 of the container to a depth determined by its angle of repose and the clearance between members i and 5. The soap is discharged from the dispenser into the hand of the user by raising the plunger 8. The upward displacement of the dispensing element 5 releases the soap around its edge resting upon bottom; 2, permitting it to The normal spacing of member 5 from false bottom 4, and consequently the stroke of plunger opening radially outward upon member 5, and} ii and the element 5, is determined by the spacing between false bottom 4! and the bottom 2 of the container. The range of this travel may be increased or decreased as desired by'adjusting the false bottom member from or toward the tait and the bottom 2 upward and outward with a Wedging action. This action breaks up any caked material so that it flows freely to the outlet 3.

Inwardly adjacent conical flange 5a, a horizontal portion 51) is provided, annularly in plan,

' its outer diameter being preferably greater than that of the outlet in false bottom 4. Zone 5b is wide enough to support the base of a substantial column of soap, which at each dispensing stroke is urged upwardly into the container I, agitating the material therein. Its fiat surface 41; abuts normally against the margin of the opening in false bottom 4 to close that opening during discharge of soap from outlet 3.

Finally, a substantial central area 50 of the dispensing member .5 is in the form of an inverted cone extending upwardly above the lower margin of false bottom 4 into the body of container l. The'sloping surface 50 acts on each upward stroke to displace the bulkof soap II in container I upwardly and outwardly,.additionally agitating and loosening it periodically to insure its free flow at all times.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an application of the invention to a large dispenser I suitable for -mounting upon a central column or vertical ,45-

water-supply pipe of a large circular Wash fountain for use by a number of men simultaneously. The container H] is provided with a plurality of dispenser mechanisms, consisting in the example shown of four. conical outlet portions 2, having each an inner false bottom 4, a dispenser element 5, etc., and otherwise identical vin construction 'and operation to the dispenser of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The invention is of course similarly applicable to multiple dispensers having any other desired "number of discharge openings.

-reliable.

The operation of the dispenser is simple and At each stroke the soap about to be discharged is agitated and broken up, as is the bulk of it stored in receptacle I. The impact of -.of its stroke the More than the predetermined amount of soap can not be obtained from the dispenser until -;after the plunger and dispensing element have I been released to drop into place upon the outer element thus positively closes off the interior of;

conical bottom 2. The large diameter dispensing the container at either bottom 2 or false bottom 4 at all times except during its actual working movements. I v

The invention presents certain 1 economies in construction over the dispensers of the same gen- 5 eral type heretofore available. No soap or abutment members upon plunger 6 or cross bars 'I are required to limit the upward and downward travel of the dispensing assembly. Precise determination of the length of. plunger 6 and arcu- 10 ate location of dispensing element 5 may be lo-' cated upon it are not necessary to the successful construction and functioning of'the device. The amount of soap to be delivered by a given dispenser may be easily and permanently adjusted by shifting the false bottom 4 up or down within the container I. Manufacture, assembly, .and installation of the device are thus made extremely simple and inexpensive.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is ,to.; be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, or arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or, the I 5 scope of the appended claim. For example, while I have shown and described a dispenser and dispensing elements whichare cylindrical and conical respectively, the dispenser may be polygonal in horizontal cross-section and the tapered bottoms and dispensing element corresponding pyramidal in form for reasons of design or construction. The terms conical? or circular are to be construed as including such modifications in shape and outline of the parts. Finally, while a conical orpyramidal dispenser. element is preferable, a flat round or polygonal element may be employed in, its stead without sacrificing the principal advantages of the invention, in dispensers for materials which do not cake readily. j Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A dispenser for finely divided materiaL'comprising a receptacle having a tapering bottom with a central discharge opening therein, a ta-" .pering false bottom in said receptacle having a central outlet coaxial with and spacedaxially from the opening in the first named bottom, of i said receptacle, and a dispensing member within said receptacle between said tapering bottomand said false bottom, centered and guided for vertical displacement axially of said receptacle,

said dispensing member formed and adapted to engage said tapering outer bottom and said false,

bottom alternately at opposite limits of its travelf to close the outlet in said false bottom and permit material to flow through'said discharge opening, and vice versa, said dispensing member formed to present a peripheral upwardly-,tapered surface lying radially outside of the outlet in the false bottom, an upwardly-tapered central portion spaced inwardly of said tapered periph-. eral surface, extending upwardlythrough said. outlet into said receptacle, and a substantially '65 horizontal portion of substantial width between said tapered surfaces located to abut against said false bottom at the outlet thereof to close said outlet. c

MICHAEL CONNER. 7 

